This short supplement presents a new expert class, one designed to provide a character with the same unstoppable and violent determination as shown by movie action heroes like Casey Ryback (Under Siege) or John McClane (the Die Hard series)... indeed although not mentioned by name McLean is referenced within the class abilities!

This character is designed as a tough combatant ready to both hand out damage and absorb a good deal, so unsurprisingly Constitution is his most important attribute, with Dexterity or Strength (depending on his preference for gunplay or fisticuffs) coming next. He has plenty of hit points, and will probably need them. Most of the class abilities are built around standing up (often alone) to overwhelming numbers of opponents... and include 'Yippee-Ki-Yay' (the McClane reference) which gives a defensive bonus for the rest of the scene after a critical success is scored with a skill use or attack and the character comes out with his catchphrase.

As well as all the game mechanics you need to generate and play a One Man Army character, there are notes on suitable talents and specialties to select and on playing him to best effect. There are also several new feats based around working with a partner as well as suggestions for existing ones that you might like to consider choosing.

Ideal for those who enjoy full-on cinematic action this is an interesting class to consider developing into as a campaign proceeds.

The PDF contains the One Man Army expert class and the partner feat chain.

What is the one man army?

I'll spell it out for you: John McClaine. Yeah, there are other "tough guy" hero figures, but I'd have to say that it's the Die Hard movies series that made the concept deserve its own class.

There are no class skills for crashing cars into helicopters. But there is a class ability called "Yippee-ki-yay". The class abilities are all about taking a lot of punishment and dishing it out against all odds (one ability, I stand alone, gives BIG bonuses when you are outnumbered.)

Of course, the class works well for any of your classical punishment-taking heroes like Rambo or your typical Van Damme character (Martial Artist/OMA!). I'm sure Jack Bauer had a few level in it by season 5 of 24.

Of course, if the class says "Die Hard", the Partner Feat Chain said "Lethal Weapon". Or, any of a number of martial arts flicks with good "partner" fight choreography. There are 3 feats in feat chain (standard for SC 2.0 feat chains). Partner basics lets you elect one "partner" at the beginning of a combat, and gives bonuses to your partner while adjacent. The later feats give more bonuses, and all of the feat's have bonuses that improve if your partner has the feat chain 2.

In addition to the actual mechanics, there are brief sections with recommendations for making a character using the class, and ideas for playing the character, including cultural influences. (They didn't mention Die Hard, but maybe they thought it was obvious.)

The one thing I felt was missing: it always seems like tough guys are getting tortured and shrugging it off. But there is nothing in the OMA class other than resolve as a class skill that really emphasizes that. The poor OMA doesn't even have a good will save. I'm thinking if I ever run this class, a bonus Hold Out feat may make in somewhere into the mix.

In the final analysis, for under 2 dollars, it seems like some players will derive some fun from the mental nuggets that this class and feat chain convey, which should make it worth it.